Bacon tray



Dec. 11, 1956 R. GUYER 7 BACON TRAY I Filed Oct. 15, 1951 j 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I i l l E W 1 I I l3 Q 1 /2 a i 22 l i i l I I u l I 2/ 1. /7 L h L 1 2.0 /3 5 /6 2 23. 3 23 INVENTOR Reynolds Guyen ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1956 R. GUYER 2,773,637

' BACON TRAY Filed Oct. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 I 5g 7 'INVENTOR Reynolds Gllycr ATTORNEY United States, Patent BACON TRAY Reynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,284

2 Claims. 0. 229-87) This invention relates to an improvement in bacon tray and deals particularly with a package suitable for use in packing strips of bacon or a similar product.

In recent years, the use of paperboard packages to contain strips of bacon and similar meats has become increasingly popular. The packages may be of numerous types. One common type of package comprises a back board having marginal flanges connected thereto. The strips of bacon are placed upon the back board and the flanges are folded over the ends of the bacon strip as well as over the first strip of the series. The tray thus formed is wrapped with cellophane or some other transparent wrapping which permits the customer to view the contents.

,This type of packagehas certain disadvantages. In

the .first place the marginal flanges .must fold closely about the bacon, thus producing a package of varying thickness which is diflicult. to overwrap neatly. In the second place the paperboard directly contacts the bacon and creates a likelihood of stain due to a wicking action of the paperboard. Finally the package requires considerable hand manipulation in most instances to fold the marginal flanges and to lock them in place until the package may be wrapped. As thepack age must be sold in competition, the package must be inexpensively constructed.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a bacon tray in which the package is lined with cellophane or a suitable transparent material. As a result the wrapper forms a part of the original package and the resulting package need not be ove'rwrapped. A further feature of the present inventionresides in the fact that the transparent liner is interposed between ,the bacon and the body of the package, thereby preventingany stain in the paperboard due to contact with the greasy contents. I

A further feature of the present invention resides in the low cost with which the package may be constructed. The package acts to enclose one marginal edge of each strip of bacon and also to cover the whole strip at one edge of the package, leaving only the stepped strip edges in view.-

A further feature of the present invention resides in providing a wrapper which is of considerable dimensions, but which uses an extremely small amount of paperboard. In view of the fact that one blank dovetails with another, two blanks may be cut from a rectangular sheet with virtually no waste of paperboard.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a package which may be easily and quickly assembled. The package lends itself very well to a continually movable assembly operation in which the package is folded either manually, automatically, or by combination of automatic and manual operations.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of a bacon package showing the general appearance thereof.

retreated Dec. 11," 1956 Figure 2 is'a bottom plan view of the package shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the package blank showing the manner in which two similar blanks dovetail together.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the blank with the transparent liner attached thereto.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the product in place and showing the package partially folded.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the next succeeding step in the folding operation.

Figure 7 is a view showing the next folding step after that shown in Figure 6.

The bacon package is best illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings and includes a back panel 10 of generally rectangular shape. This panel 10 is connected along a fold line 11 to a marginal flange 12. In use the panel 10 forms the back panel of the package while the panel 12 'forms a flange extending along the lower edge of the package and covering the first strip of bacon or similar material.

The flange 12 is provided with a relatively narrow extension 13 which extends substantially flush with one edge 14 of the rectangular back panel 10. This extension 13 is designed to overlie one edge of each of the strips of bacon. v

The extension 13 is foldably connected at 15 to a locking strip 16. The locking strip 16 is preferably provided with a rounded extremity 17 and a notch 19 which is designed to interlock with a slot 20 in the back panel 10 As indicated in the drawings a shallow notch 21 is formed in the edge 22 of the blank which forms the upper edge of the backing panel; This'notch 21 is designed to accommodate the locking tongue 16, which folds therein. As noted, the locking tongue is slightly narrower than the extension 13 so that the side edge 23 of the tongue is spaced inwardly from; the edge 14 of the panel 10. As a result the notch 21 may be spaced from the corner of the panel 10 so that the locking tongue may be held from lateral movement with respect to'the backing panel.

' The blanks thus formed are attached to'rectangular lining sheets 24 of cellophane or other suitable material. One edge of each' lining sheet 24' extends substantially along the fold line 11 while the opposite edge thereof extends somewhat beyond the fold line 15. The end edges 25 and 26 project laterally beyond the edges 27 and 14 respectively of the panel 10. The lining sheet 24' is adheredv to the'fiange-12 as well as to the extension 13; There is no adhesive connection between the lining sheet and the locking tab 16.

The various steps of packaging the bacon in the package are illustrated in the drawings. Figure 4 discloses the blank in readiness to receive the strips of bacon. These strips of bacon are usually arranged in edge overlapping relationship and form a rectangle. in plan which extends substantially the area of the backing panel 10. However, in the packaging operation, the strips are placed over the adjoining portion of the package, the strips being placed upon the lining sheet 24 to overlie a rectangular area bounded by an extension of the edge 27, an extension of the fold line 15, the fold line 11, and the edge 14 of the extension 13. The bacon strips are shown in this position in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The strips of bacon are placed in proper position upon the lining sheet 24 when it is in the position shown in Figure 4 and the lining sheet is folded along a line of fold 29 which substantially coincides with the fold line 15. This arrangement forms a closure for the edges of the bacon strips and partially encloses the exposed surface of the bacon.

The liner 2,4. is next folded into the position shown in Figure 6 with the lateral edges25, and. 2, abutt ng. 012 preferably overlapping to some extent. In other words, the liner is folded along the opposite edges 27 and 14 of he blank, these ends overlying the. strips, of; bacon and enclosing the same. Thus in the position shown in Figure 6, the bacon is entirely enclosedwithin the, wranpen,

The next step of the packaging; operation is. to fold the panel over the bacon as indicated in Figure; 7 of the drawings. When in this position the backingsheet 10 overlies the wrapped strips, of bacon auditors to assist in supporting the same.

The locking tab 16 is next inserted through. the sl,0t-, 2l)- so that; the notch 19 engages in this slot, The slot is preferably slightly cit-set inwandlyf zom theedge 14, be,- yond the edge 23 of the lockingtabwSD that the tab is deformed slightly in inserting it throughtherslot. However, when the notch 19 engages an end of the slot 20 the lock is engaged and the extension- 13. is. s curely .a tached to, the backing panel 10. When; the package is, entirely wrapped, it has the appearance illustratedin Eigure 1. The wrapped slices of baednarc visible through,-

out most of the area of the bacon, the endstrip of the series being concealed by the flange 12 and one edge. of each strip being concealed by the extensi n. 13., The package is neat in appearance; and may remain so in view of the fact that the body of th Package ;is;-11Qt permitted to come into contact with the. strips of; bacon. The package requires no. overwrapping;operatiomthereby producing a neater and better appearing structure than would otherwise be readily obtained.

In the packaging of a product such as bacon, it is desirable that most of the air be excluded from the package during the wrapping operation. With a rectangular package of constant thickness, such a wrap is difficult to obtain as the strips are in overlapping relation and; one edge of the last strip of the series projects beyond all of the other strips. It will be noted that as the flange 12 is connected to the backing 10 along a single line of fold, the package will conform to the gradual increase in thickness to the bacon strips and may be thinner along the end strips of the series in order to compensate for the difference in thickness at these points; Thus the. package-is effective in the preservation of the product.

In accordance with the patentstatutes, I havedescribed, the principles of construction and operation of mybacon tray, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that thisis only illustrative thereof and that obvious changes may. be made within the scope of the following claimswithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1; A package including a generally rectangular. Panel, a secondpanel integral with and;foldably connectedto the first panel along a fold line coextensive with an edge, said second panel being, substantially within me confines of said first panel when folded thereon and including a panel portion extending along the said fold line and an integral narrow right angularly extending portion at one end of the first named panel portion and extending in substantial alignment with an edge of said first panel at right angles to said fold line, said two panel portions leaving the major portion of said first panel exposed. when, folded thereupon, and an integral flap'foldably connected to the end of said second panel portion of said second panel designed to fold over. the edge .of the first panel parallel to said fold line and to underlie said first panel, an integral transparent liner sheet of rectangular form overlying and. adhered to said second panel along both portions thereof, said liner sheet extending substantially beyond the side edges of said second panel,, and extending over at least a portion of said flap, but being free of attachment therewith.

2'. A package constructed to display a relatively thin body of material; the package including a base panel of generally rectangular shape and of slightly greater dimensions than the thin body of material, a generally rectangular strip hingedly connected to an edge of said base panel and folded to overlie an edge of the thin. body of material',a right angularly arranged generally rectangular strip integral with one end of said first named s'trip and extending over an end of the thin body of material, one edge of said right angularly arranged strip overlying and substantially coinciding with an edge of said base panel, said strips leaving exposed a generally rectangular area of said thin body of material, and an extension on said right angularly arranged strip foldably connected to an, end thereof and foldable beneath said basepanel, and interlocking means on said extension and said base panel, a transparent liner sheet of generally rectangular; form secured to'said strips and overlying the thin body of material, the liner sheet having an edge and folded opposite ends tucked between said base sheet and said thin body of material to completely enclose said thin body of material.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,516, Resend. Oct; 31, 1933 1,987,491 Nejelski Jan. 8, 1935. 2243, 421; Himes May27, 1941 2,'33;3-,943 Levkofi Nov. 9, 1943 2,465,841 Bonini Mar. 29, 1949 v215-18571! Mulford Aug. 15, 1950 2,565,976 Mayer et a1. Aug. 28, 19.5.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 312,991 Italy ...De.c., 1,193.1 

